The Watergate scandal is primarily associated with the cover-up of a burglary that took place during the 1972 presidential campaign. This incident involved members of then-President Richard Nixon's administration breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters located at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The subsequent attempts to conceal the government's involvement in the burglary led to a major political scandal that ultimately resulted in the investigation and exposure of numerous abuses of power.
As details surrounding the scandal emerged, it became evident that there were extensive efforts to obstruct justice, including the misuse of executive power to manipulate government agencies. The pressure from investigations, particularly those led by the media and congressional committees, culminated in Nixon's resignation in 1974, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president resigned from office. Thus, the core of the Watergate scandal revolves around the actions taken to cover up illegal activities linked to the administration during a critical point in American political history.